Toggle actuated tool having jaws for pipe alignment and clamping



Dec. 13, 1966 D. E. BELVAL TOGGLE ACTUATED TOOL HAVING JAWS FOR PIPEALIGNMENT AND CLAMPING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1964 Dona/a E.Bel val INVENTOK.

Dec. 13, 1966 D. E. BELVAL 9 3 TOGGLE ACTUATED TOOL HAVING JAWS FOR PIPEALIGNMENT AND CLAMPING Filed Dec. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet Z V ma uqDonald E. Be/va/ INVENTOK.

Attarne United States Patent 3,290,971 TOGGLE ACTUATED TOOL HAVING JAWSFOR PIPE ALIGNMENT AND CLAMPING Donald E. Belval, Maysville, Ky. (1246Thurnridge Drive, Reading, Ohio) Filed Dec. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 417,672 8Claims. (Cl. 81-367) This invention generally relates to new and usefulimprovements in pipe handling tools and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter comprising novel means for expeditiously and accuratelyaligning and firmly holding a pair of pipe sections to be connected.

Another highly important object of the present invention is to providean aligning clamp or vise of the character described which is readilyadjustable for use on all sizes of pipe within a given range.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a pipealigning or handling clamp which is of the open end type to facilitateapplication to the work.

Another object is to provide, in a hand tool of the character describedcomprising a pair of pivotally connected coacting jaws, uniqueadjustable lever and toggle means for actuating said jaws.

Other objects are to provide an improved, portable pipe handling clampor vise which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable,compact, of light Weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing a tool embodying the presentinvention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the tool, showing same in use;

FIGURE 5 is a view in side elevation of the tool, showing the deviceapplied to a small pipe section; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 ofFIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises astationary lower jaw 8 and a swingable upper jaw 10. The lower jaw 8 isfixedly mounted on the forward end of a substantially T-shaped handle12. The handle 12 is of suitable tubular metal and includes on itsforward end a crosshead 14. The lower jaw 8 comprises a pair of flatmetallic arms 16 which are affixed to the ends of the member 14. Thearms 16 include tubular forward end portions 18 having therein spacedopenings 20. It will be noted that the arms comprising the elements 16and tubular portions 18 are angulated and extending between said armsadjacent the angles thereof is a stationary cross member 22. Slidablymounted on the tubular portions 18 of the arms 16 is a cross member orbar 24. The bar 24 includes on its end sleeves or the like 26 which areslidable on the elements 18. Pins 28 in the sleeves 26 are engageableselectively in the openings 20 for securing the bar 24 in adjustedposition on the elements 18. Spaced parallel pipe aligning rods 30 and32 are mounted on the bars 22 and 24, respectively.

The upper jaw is substantially similar to the lower jaw 8 in that italso includes a pair of flat metallic arms 34 including tubular outerend portions 36 having spaced openings 38 therein. The inner endportions of the arms 34 are pivotally connected to the arms 16 of thejaw 10 by a pivot bolt 40 which passes through said arms 16 and themember 14. A stationary bar 42 extends between the arms 34 adjacent theangles thereof. An adjustable bar 44 extends between the tubularportions 36 of the arms 34 and includes on its end sleeves or the like46 which are slidably adjustable on the tubular portions 36. The sleeves46 are secured in adjusted position through the medium of pins 48 whichare engageable selectively in the spaced openings 38 in the tubularportions 36. A stationary aligning rod 51] is mounted on the bar 42. Anadjustable aligning rod 52 is mounted on the bar 44 and the sleeves 46.

The tubular handle 12 is of circular cross-section and has formedtherein a longitudinal slot 54. The slot 54 is provided with an enlargedforward end portion 56. The handle 12 further includes a tapered,internally threaded rear end portion 58 having threaded therethrough anadjusting screw 60.

Means comprising a tubular metallic lever 62 is provided for actuatingthe jaw 10. Angularly affixed to the forward end of the lever 62 is apair of spaced, parallel toggle links 64. The forward end portions ofthe links 64 receive therebetween an car 66 on the bar 42 and arepivotally connected thereto as at 68.

A link 70 has its forward end portion pivotally secured between the rearend portions of the links 64, as at 72. The rear end portion of the link70 is pivotally and slidably engaged in the tubular handle 12 and abutsthe adjusting screw 60. The link 70 travels in the slot 54. A shortcrosshead 73 on the rear end portion of the link 70 slidably andpivotally anchors said link in the handle 12. The links 64, 70, etc.provide a toggle 74 for which the member 62 is the operating lever. Astop 76 on the link 70 limits the swinging movement of the lever 62toward clamping position. A spring 78 on the member 14 is operativelyconnected to the arms 34 and 16 for yieldingly urging the jaw 10 towardopen position.

It is thought that the use or operation of the tool will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Reference numeral 80designates a pair of pipe sections to be joined or connected. Briefly,the lever 62 is swung upwardly for opening the jaw 10. The open tool isthen slipped on the adjacent end portions of the pipe sections 80. Thelever 62 is then swung downwardly for actuating the jaw 10 to closed orclamping position against the action of the spring '78 through themedium of the toggle 74. The rods 30, 32, 50 and 52 longitudinallyengage the pipe sections at circumferentially spaced points and bridgethe abutting ends 82 thereof. Thus, the pipe sections 80 are aligned andsecurely held in an obvious manner. When the links 64 and 70 of thetoggle 74 pass dead center the lever 62 engages the stop 76 and isarrested thereby. In this manner the jaws 8 and 10 are retained inclamping and aligning position. The clamping position of the jaws 8 and10 may be adjusted as desired through the medium of the screw 60.However, for small pipe sections as indicated at 84 in FIG- URES 5 and 6of the drawing, the rods 32 and 52 are adjusted inwardly on the tubularportions 18 and 36 and secured in position, as shown. Although, asindicated, the tool is primarily for aligning pipe sections, said toolmay, of course, be used for any other purpose for which it may be foundadapted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modificatons and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hand tool for aligning and holding a pair of endabutting pipesections, said tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws forreceiving the adjacent end portions of the pipe sections therebetween,said jaws including means for aligning the pipe sections, a fixed handleon one of the jaws, and means for actuating the other of said jaws, thefirst-named means including a plurality of spaced, parallel rodsengageable longitudinally with the pipe sections at circumferentiallyspaced points and adapted to bridge the abutting ends thereof, certainof the rods being adjustable toward and away from others of the rods foraccommodating pipe sections of different sizes, said jaws furtherincluding pairs of pivotally connected arms, and sleeves on said certainrods slidable on said arms for slidably mounting said certain rodsthereon.

2. The combination of claim 1, together with means for securing thesleeves in adjusted position.

3. The combination of claim 2, said arms having spaced holes therein,the last-named means including removable pins in the sleeves engageableselectively in the holes.

4. A hand tool for aligning and holding a pair of endabutting pipesections, said tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws forreceiving the adjacent end portions of the pipe sections therebetween,said jaws including means for aligning the pipe sections, a fixed handleon one of the jaws, and means for actuating the other of said jaws, thefirst-named means including a plurality of spaced, parallel rodsengageable longitudinally with the pipe sections at circumferentiallyspaced points and adapted to bridge the abutting ends thereof, certainof the rods being adjustable toward and away from others of the rods foraccommodating pipe sections of different sizes, the second-named meanscomprising a handle fixedly mounted on one of the jaws and a togglehaving one end connected to the handle and operatively connected to theother of the jaws, said toggle including an operating lever.

5. The combination of claim 4, said handle being tubular and having alongitudinal slot therein slidably and pivotally receiving said one endof the toggle, and a screw threadedly mounted for longitudinaladjustment in the handle and engaged with said one end of the toggle foradjusting same in said handle.

6. A pipe aligning tool comprising a generally T-shaped handle includinga crosshead, a stationary jaw comprising a pair of arms fixedly mountedon the crosshead, a swingable jaw comprising a pair of arms pivotallymounted on said crosshead, stationary aligning rods mounted on the pairsof arms, slidable aligning rods on the pairs of arms adjustable towardand away from the stationary rods and paralleling same, and means foractuating the swingable jaw.

7. The combination of claim 6, said means including a toggle connectedto the handle and the swingable jaw and including an operating lever onits knee portion.

8. A pipe alignment clamp comprising a pair of elon gated jaw memberspivotally connected together at one pair of end portions for relativemovement of the other pair of end portions thereof toward and away fromeach others, means operatively connected with said jaw members foreffecting said relative movement, a first pair of parallel, opposing andelongated transversely extending pipe aligning and clamping memberscarried by said other pair of end portions of said jaw members andmovable therewith toward and away from each other, a second pair ofparallel, opposing and elongated transversely extending pipe aligningand clamping members generally paralleling said first pair of membersand mounted on said other pair of end portions of said jaw members formovement longitudinally thereof relative to and toward and away from thecorresponding first pair of clamping members, said other pair of endportions of said jaw members and said second pair of clamping membersincluding coacting means operative to releasably retain said second pairof clamping members in adjusted positions along said other pair of endportions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,299,454 10/1942Borchers 81-372 2,557,202 6/1951 Raymond et a1. 2,686,521 8/1954 Sheldonet a1 81-367 X OTHER REFERENCES Laboratory Apparatus and Supplies,Catalog H 351, Copyright 1935. 1

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

GIL WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HAND TOOL FOR ALIGNING AND HOLDING A PAIR OF ENDABUTTING PIPESECTIONS, SAID TOOL COMPRISING A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED JAWS FORRECEIVING THE ADJACENT END PORTIONS OF THE PIPE SECTIONS THEREBETWEEN,SAID JAWS INCLUDING MEANS FOR ALIGNING THE PIPE SECTIONS, A FIXED HANDLEON ONE OF THE JAWS, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE OTHER OF SAID JAWS, THEFIRST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED, PARALLEL RODSENGAGEABLE LONGITUDINALLY WITH THE PIPE SECTIONS AT CIRCUMFERENTIALLYSPACED POINTS AND ADAPTED TO BRIDGE THE ABUTTING ENDS THEREOF, CERTAINOF THE RODS BEING ADJUSTABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM OTHERS OF THE RODS FORACCOMMODATING PIPE SECTIONS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, SAID JAWS FURTHERINCLUDING PAIRS OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ARMS, AND SLEEVES ON SAID CERTAIN